Kochi: The Ernakulam Additional Sessions court Wednesday sentenced Shobha John and six other accused to seven years imprisonment in the 2006 Sabarimala temple priest assault and blackmail case.
The court awarded seven years imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 5000 to Kep Ani (Anil Kumar), Bechu Rahman (Abdulrahiman), Abdul Sathar, Majeed and Sherif while Biji Peter and Azeez were sentenced to four years.
The court had found Sobha John and nine others guilty in the case on Tuesday.
According to the prosecution, Sobha along with the other accused had hatched a plot and threatened the 'thantri (traditional high priest)' Kandararu Mohanararu at gun point at her flat in Valanjambalam area here and forcibly took away about 40 sovereigns of gold ornaments from him on July 23, 2006. They also photographed him with a woman.
Mohanararu was sacked as Sabarimala temple tantri after the incident.